- Title: VARIOUS: SHOWBIZ REVIEW OF THE YEAR - A YEAR IN THE ARENA
- Date: 1st January 2000
- Summary: ROME,ITALY (APRIL 26, 2000) (REUTERS) SLV STAR OF GLADIATOR, RUSSELL CROWE AND DIRECTOR RIDLEY SCOTT IN FRONT OF COLISEUM SCU RUSSELL CROWE
- Embargoed: 16th January 2000 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA, BERLIN, GERMANY, CANNES AND DEAUVILLE , FRANCE ,VENICE,ITALY, LONDON,UNITED KINGDOM
- City:
- Country: USA
- Topics: People
- Reuters ID: LVAB1OUVUJI0H2XXROT2GJ39RIRK
- Story Text: Early pre-Oscar hype for 2001 says it's been a dull film year! There's nothing out there generating any Oscar buzz, we read! Well at the Reuters Video News Showbiz Desk - we beg to differ! We haven't had a dull year - it's been a great year for us....from Los Angeles to okyo, Berlin to Rio we've followed the stars recording their highs and lows.
Film and fashion seemed to have blurred - catwalk models appear in films, film stars appear on the catwalk - and for most of them there's hardly a second of their lives when they're not confronted by cameras - when they're not in the public gaze.
Indeed the stars of today spend their lives in an arena - entertaining us like the bread and circuses of old.
Take time now to enjoy our reviews of the past year as we look back at some of our favourite moments and 'A year in the Arena!' Well? Are you not entertained? Are you NOT entertained! Early pre-Oscar hype for 2001 says it's been a dull film year! There's nothing out there generating any Oscar buzz, we read! Well at the Reuters Video News Showbiz Desk - we beg to differ! We haven't had a dull year - it's been a great year for us....from Los Angeles to Tokyo, Berlin to Rio we've followed the stars recording their highs and lows.
Film and fashion seemed to have blurred - catwalk models appear in films, film stars appear on the catwalk - and for most of them there's hardly a second of their lives when they're not confronted by cameras - when they're not in the public gaze. Indeed the stars of today spend their lives in an arena - entertaining us like the bread and circuses of old.
Which leads us nicely to Ridley Scott's epic 'Gladiator.' One of the stand-up movies of the year - the historical yarn brought us a be-skirted Russell Crowe as Maximus - the 'General who became a slave,' 'the slave who became a Gladiator,' the Gladiator that became a blockbuster.
It's also just become a stunning DVD - breaking sales records around the world for the new format.
Gladiator re-invented the sand and sandals epic - with extraordinary battle scenes and Computer Generated Imagery that showed us the Colosseum - or perhaps more correctly the Flavian Amphitheatre - and it could cut a swathe through the opposition at next year's Oscars. Russell could well be crowing.
'Your mission this time Mr Cruise? To publicise your latest Mission Impossible blockbuster across Europe, meet as many of your fans as possible - and make them happy. You have a week to do it.' It was a mission in which he daren't fail.
He didn't. Tom went on a world Cruise to promote his latest Ethan Hunt outing - 'Mission: Impossible 2' - and wowed his fans from Australia to Germany.
He worked the crowds beautifully where ever he went - and in return they sang him 'Happy Birthday' in Germany.
In London it was obvious he was up against 'Gladiator' at the European box-office - but that didn't stop him from catching up with Russell Crowe - and the two superstars posed to the delight of the London paparazzi - for a once in a lifetime shot.
But are both stars cowards? Would they turn Chicken? Or even worse - would they turn tail - and run from a chicken? Nick Park's 'Chicken Run' thrilled 'children' of all ages around the world - with it's brilliant animation from the team that brought us 'Wallace & Gromit.' And those chickens weren't afraid to poke fun at Cruise and Crowe hatching two brilliant spoof trailers of 'M:I 2' and 'Gladiator.' M:I was a successful US tv series - so Hollywood found it irresistable.
'Shaft' was a successful movie 'franchise' in the Seventies - so Hollywood found it ....worth a second look - cleverly updating it with Samuel L. Jackson as the eponymous hero - nephew to the older one. At least it was an opportunity to trot out Isaac Hayes wonderful score again.
When it comes to the superstar stakes Leonardo may have been quiet this year - but he certainly has't sunk without trace.
The 'Titanic' star steamed into Berlin - for the film festival there - and caused mayhem - amongst his young fans - and the media.
Berlin literally ground to a standstill as he descended into the arena of the Potsdammer Platz like a young Wagnerian god.
"Leo! Leo," his fans chanted.
"Leo! Leo," the press chorused as he hosted a press conference designed to publicize his first major outing since 'Titanic,' 'The Beach.' But in a remarkable press conference - attendees including the children of Berlin-based journalists - the modest young hearthrob completely dominated the interest of the world's assembled media - to the point where, in desperation, the Berlin Film festival Director got to his feed and 'ordered' the press to address the other members of the cast of the 'The Beach' - including director Danny Boyle.
'Leonardo,' 'Leonardo' was the press response. And rightly so. Press conferences are above 'direction.' Di Caprio himself said of his future plans, "Titanic was a huge film in every respect - and it was a huge challenge in every respect. But - you know - I want to be receptive to taking choices like that again in the future - because I want to try as many different things as possible - especially while I'm young. "
This year's Berlin Film festival - the fiftieth - was truly stunning - the cream of the world's movie stars jetting in to mark the golden anniversary.
George, Denzel, Gwyneth, Brad, Matt came to the new German capital and local hero Wim Wenders was suitably feted and honoured.
Jeanne Moreau was honoured for Lifetime achivement at Berlin - seeting the scene for a spate of Life Time achievement awards across the European Film Fest scene.
Certainly Venice and Deauville chose to make Clint Eastwood's day. He received Life Time Achivement awards at both fests - and clearly enjoyed the experience, hosting a gracious junket for the world's media in Venice and clearly particularly enjoying a return to Italy - where it all began with those German financed, Japanese-based, Spanish locations, Italian directed 'spaghetti' westerns.
Would he have a space on the mantelpiece for more awards? "I suppose I'll find one - yeah it's very nice," he said.
The Oscars glittered as perhaps they haven't done in years - the post-ceremony Vanity Fair party providing the hottest ticket in town.
Sam Mendes and American Beauty with Kevin Spacey dominated the night - and Michael Caine loomed large with his Oscar for his performance in Cider House Rules.
Spacey said of his feelings at winning - AND the journey 'American Beauty' took, "They're both incredible. It's an extraordinary journey that it's taken - it's just amazing."
Cannes was just amazing this year too. The previous year was generally acknowledged to have suffered - with stars staying away in droves while NATO forces were in action in the Balkans.
They were back with a vengeance this year to promote their movies - but for pure unadulaterated glamour they were all overshadowed by an invasion of semi-naked supermodels - strutting their stuff in a Cannes catwalk show wearing Victoria's Secrets lingerie - and the odd diamond glued into eyelashes.
Liz Taylor was in attendance - the whole event raising two million dollars for AMfAR - the American Foundation for Aids Research.
"That's an awful lot of dough," Liz declared.
And next year? Well if the stunning teaser trailer is anything to go by - watch for Bruckheimer's 'Pearl Harbor' - a recounting of Japan's attack on the US Navy's base at Hawaii.
It could well prove to be as much of a blockbuster as that other historical maritime epic 'Titanic.' So....those were some of our favourite images of this year. No doubt you'll have your own.
Tomorrow we'll bring you more - from the worlds of music and theatre.
Everyone here at Reuters' Showbiz department hopes we entertained you throughout 2000.
We will continue to try and do so throughout 2001.
As Russell asked the cheering arena, "Are you not entertained? Are you NOT entertained?"
We were...we hope you were too. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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